Patio table



Oct. 28, 1969 w. s. PARKER ET AL 3,475,053

PATIO TABLE Filed Aug. 2, 1.967

FIG. 4

INVENTOR: HAROLD G. WAHLD|CK,Jr.

h /2o n H" BY WILLIAM S. PARKER MMMMMW .BanQQJofiw? I ATToRA/Er:

United States Patent 3,475,053 PATIO TABLE William S. Parker, 399 W. Wheelock Parkway, St. Paul,

Minn. 55117, and Harold G. Wahldick, Jr., Morton Lumber Company, Morton, Minn. 56270 Filed Aug. 2, 1967, Ser. No. 657,891 Int. Cl. A47b 83/02 U.S. Cl. 297-157 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rectangular wooden patio or picnic table (generally square) characterized by the presence of attached benches on all sides. The legs each extend diagonally from the bottom of the table top downwardly and in the direction of a corner. Each pair of diagonally opposite legs is connected by a diagonal cross beam spaced downwardly from the table top. The mittered ends of each bench are supported on top of the ends of both cross beams.

This invention relates to a wooden rectangular table with attached benches on all sides, intended primarily for use in the serving and eating of meals. The table of the invention is intended primarily for outdoor use on patios or in picnic pavilions or the like, although obviously it may be used elsewhere. The table is of simple construction, intended to be built from readily available lumber to provide a table of reasonable size and weight capable of seating up to eight adults. The grouping around all sides of the table lends itself to ease of serving and convivial conversation.

The patio table according to the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which the same numerals refer to corresponding parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the table;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation from one corner seen from the line 22 of FIGURE 1 and in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, showing details of attachment of the leg members; and

FIGURE 4 is an exploded fragmentary isometric view of the centers of the table cross beams showing the manner in which they are joined.

Referring now to the drawings, the patio table according to the present invention comprises a generally rectangular, and usually square, fiat horizontal table top supported on a plurality of four legs 11, 12, 13 and 14. The under side of the table top 10 is desirably provided along each of its edges with a relatively narrow reinforcing and finishing strip 15. Strips 15 may be joined at the corners in mitered or butt joints. Where the table top 10 is composed of a plurality of boards, these are joined together and connected by means of a pair of transverse reinforcing and bracing members 16 spaced inwardly from the ends of the boards comprising the table top.

Each of the legs 11-14 is disposed diagonally relative to the table top 10. Each leg extends downwardly at an angle between about 40 to 50 degrees relative to the table top surface and in the direction of the nearest corner of the table top and beyond. As best seen in FIGURE 3, each leg is connected by means of a bolt 16 to a panel 17 which in turn is secured by means of screws 18 to the under side of the table top 10. For greatest stability, the panel 17 is desirably of a size to fit snugly within the area defined between the pair of transverse reinforcing members 16A and edge members 15. The leg is desirably recessed to receive the nut securing bolt 16 and either the bottom of the table top or panel 17 is desirably recessed to receive the head of bolt 16.

3,475,053 Patented Oct. 28, 1969 The pair of legs 11 and 13 on diagonally opposite corners of the table are interconnected by a cross beam 19 and legs 12 and 14 are similarly connected by means of cross beam 20. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the cross beams are positioned horizontal, parallel to the table top and spaced intermediate between the table top and the surface on which the table rests. As best seen in FIGURE 4, the cross beams 19 and 20 are interconnected in a blind halved-lap joint. To compensate for any weakness introduced into the cross beams by this joint, parallel holes 21 are drilled through each of the cross beams on opposite sides of the joint to receive bolts extending through the width of each cross beam.

Each leg is secured to a cross beam by means of a pair of bolts 22 or equivalent fastening means. As best seen in FIGURE 1, for greatest stability, each of the legs of each pair of legs secured to the cross beam butts against an opposite side surface of the cross beam. The length of each cross beam is sufliciently greater than the greatest diagonal dimension of the table top 10 to provide a cantilevered support for bench members.

A plurality of fiat elongated horizontal bench members 23, 24, 25 and 26 are disposed about all sides of the patio table, each supported at its opposite ends by cross beams 19 and 20. The ends of the bench members are mitered and meet in a plain miter butt on the top surface of the cantilevered ends of the cross beams and are secured, as by means of nails or equivalent fasteners. The end of each bench member is supported on half of the thickness of the cross beam. Desirably a seven penny ring shank finishing nail is used for fastening the bench members. The nails are set and the holes are filled. For additional strength one or more angle brackets 27 are secured between each seat member and each cross beam.

The inside edge of each bench member is desirably in approximate vertical alignment with the outside edge of the table top 10. Similarly, the outside edge of each bench member is in approximate vertical alignment with the lowermost extremity of the adjacent legs.

Although the invention is independent of any particular size or materials, the following are illustrative. Desirably the table top 10 is about four feet square and from onehalf to one inch thick formed from a single sheet of plywood or finished one inch boards of whatever width may be readily available, either all alike or randomly selected to give the required overall width. Where narrower boards are used, they are desirably tongued and grooved. The edge strips 15 are desirably finished one by two inch boards in abutment with the bottom edge of the table top with the finished one inch edge in alignment with the edges of the table top. The reinforcing members 16 are desirably one by four inch boards spaced inwardly about six inches from the edge members 15.

The leg supporting panel 17 is formed from heavy duty plywood one-half to one inch thick and of a size approximately 24 x 44 inches to substantially fill the area on the under side of the table bounded by the members 15 and 16. The legs are desirably formed from finished 2 x 4s. The cross beams are desirably formed from finished 2 x 6s and the bench members from finished 2 x 8s. The table desirably has an overall height between about 28 and 30 inches. The tops of the bench members are desirably between about 15 and 17 inches high. The table is constructed from whatever lumber may be readily available. This may be pine, redwood, cedar, fir or the like or combinations thereof. Any desired finish may be applied or the table may be left unfinished.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by way of example only.

We claim as our invention:

1. A wooden patio table comprising:

(A) a generally rectangular flat horizontal table top;

(B) four legs extending diagonally downwardly and outwardly from the bottom side of said table top;

(C) said legs being disposed diagonally relative to the table top extending in the direction of the corners thereof;

(D) a pair of horizontal diagonal cross beams disposed spaced below said table top;

(E) each of said beams being connected adjacent their opposite ends to a pair of diagonally opposite legs;

(F) the ends of said beams extending beyond the edges of the table top;

(G) four elongated flat horizontal bench members, each disposed along and below one edge of said table p;

(H) each of said bench members being supported at its opposite ends by the ends of each of said cross beams.

2. A table according to claim 1 further characterized in that said legs are all secured to a single heavy duty plywood panel which in turn is secured to the bottom surface of said table top.

3. A table according to claim 1 further characterized in that said cross beams are joined in a blind halved-lap joint and one of each diagonally opposed pair of legs butts against each side of the cross beam.

4. A table according to claim 3 further characterized in that a parallel pair of bolts extends vertically through the width of each of said cross beams on opposite sides of said halved-lap joint.

5. A table according to claim 1 further characterized in that the ends of said bench members are mitered and meet in a plain miter butt, the ends of adjacent bench members each being supported on half of the thickness of the cross beam.

6. A table according to claim 1 further characterized in that the inside edge of each bench member is in approximate vertical alignment with the corresponding outside edge of the table top and the outside edge of each bench member is in approximate vertical alignment with the lowermost extremity of the adjacent supporting legs.

7. A table according to claim 1 further characterized in that the table top is generally square and said bench members are disposed in an open center square surrounding but spaced below said table top.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,096,866 7/1963 Glass 297l59 3,101,061 8/1963 Amend 297-157 XR 3,120,405 2/1964 Soszynski 297--l57 3,266,840 8/1966 DEstrube 297157 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,026,640 4/ 1953 France.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 108-10l, 111 

